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Rovine Chandrasekera
Managing partner of the Dubai office

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The managing partner of the firm's Dubai office and a commercial litigation and shipping partner, Rovine advises on a broad range of commercial disputes and deals with matters regarding asset recovery, enforcements and contracts relating to offshore oil and gas, shipbuilding and shipping. He has extensive experience of litigation and international arbitration within England as well as UAE market leading experience in the Iranian and Sri Lankan markets.

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Rovine has substantial experience of working with clients based in the Middle East, particularly in the UAE, Iran and Syria which include insurance companies, traders, banks, brokers and ship owners.

He was awarded Asset and Fraud Lawyer of the Year and Leading 250 Lawyer by Lawyer Monthly 2014, Commercial Litigation Lawyer of the Year by Legals Finest 200 2014 and also recognised as a Leading Individual by Chambers Global 2015.

Rovine has considerable experience in advising owners, charterers and traders in the marine and offshore energy sectors in relation to charterparty and sale contract disputes and cargo claims. In addition, Rovine has extensive experience handling memorandum of agreements (MOA) disputes, negotiating and drafting charterparty terms and long term supply contracts, sanctions advice (relating to Iran, Syria, Ivory Coast), shipbuilding disputes and in relation to marine fraud investigations and asset tracing.

Commercial Litigation

Acting for a UAE oil terminal in relation to a US$125m multi-jurisdictional dispute concerning title to two cargoes of oil discharged into terminals in the UAE.

Advising David Haigh, the ex-managing director of Leeds United Football Club on a DIFC claim initiated by the DIFC branch of a major Bahrain based Islamic investment bank for AED23 million on account alleged of breach of trust and money laundering.

Acting for a leading salvage company in connection with a dispute it has with the Iraqi Ministry of Oil (MOO) in relation to the performance of a contract between 2013 and 2014.

Marine & International Trade

Recently advised Owners on the purchase of 4 newbuild VLGC's from a leading Korean shipyard. The total project value was US$390 million.

Acting for NITC in its successful challenge in the General Court of the EU against the asset freezing measures adopted against NITC by the Council of the EU in October 2012 and on-going legal proceedings in the European Court of Justice.

Acting for a leading Iranian owner in respect to a major collision with another vessel in the UAE.

Fraud & Asset Tracing

Advising David Haigh, the ex-managing director of Leeds United Football Club on a DIFC claim initiated by the DIFC branch of a major Bahrain based Islamic investment bank for AED23 million on account alleged of breach of trust and money laundering.

Acting for a leading UAE based fund in relation to US$10 million UAE proceedings brought against it, due to the alleged actions of a rogue employee said to have misappropriated client funds.

Acting for the State Trading Corporation the transport arm of the government of Mauritius. The case relates to the countries previous and future transportation contracts and involves a review of contract terms, potential breaches of local procurement rules and potentially setting aside contracts because of undue influence / fraud.

Shipping

Recently advised Owners on the purchase of 4 newbuild VLGC's from a leading Korean shipyard. The total project value of the project was US$390 million.

Acting for NITC in its successful challenge in the General Court of the EU against the asset freezing measures adopted against NITC by the Council of the EU in October 2012 and on-going legal proceedings in the European Court of Justice.

Acting for a leading salvage company in connection with a dispute it has with the Iraqi Ministry of Oil (MOO) in relation to the performance of a contract between 2013 and 2014.

Acting for a UAE oil terminal in relation to a US$125 million multi-jurisdictional dispute concerning title to two cargoes of oil discharged into terminals in the UAE.

International Trade

Acting for a UAE oil terminal in relation to a US$125m multi-jurisdictional dispute concerning title to two cargoes of oil discharged into terminals in the UAE.

Advising Platinum Corporation FZC on a number of supply contracts entered into with various suppliers. This dispute required us to address whether or not the contracts had been frustrated and/or whether a force majeure event had occurred.

Advising Toba Toba Trading FZC on a Commercial Court case in London, acting for the defendants in relation to sale and purchase contracts for gasoline products to Azerbaijan.

The Middle East

Acting for NITC in its successful challenge in the General Court of the EU against the asset freezing measures adopted against NITC by the Council of the EU in October 2012 as well as the on-going legal proceedings in the European Court of Justice.

Advising David Haigh, the ex-managing director of Leeds United Football Club on a DIFC claim initiated by the DIFC branch of a major Bahrain-based Islamic investment bank for AED23 million on account alleged of breach of trust and money laundering.

UAE

Advising David Haigh, the ex-managing director of Leeds United Football Club on a DIFC claim initiated by the DIFC branch of a major Bahrain-based Islamic investment bank for AED23 million on account alleged of breach of trust and money laundering.

Acting for NITC in its successful challenge in the General Court of the EU against the asset freezing measures adopted against NITC by the Council of the EU in October 2012 as well as the on-going legal proceedings in the European Court of Justice.

Acting for a UAE oil terminal in relation to a US$125m multi-jurisdictional dispute concerning title to two cargoes of oil discharged into terminals in the UAE.

Iran

Acting for NITC in its successful challenge in the General Court of the EU against the asset freezing measures adopted against NITC by the Council of the EU in October 2012 as well as the on-going legal proceedings in the European Court of Justice.

Acting for a leading Iranian ship owner and provided on-going advice regarding sanctions against Iran. This has involved advising on European based finance/loan obligations, charter party and MOA obligations and shipbuilding contracts.

Iraq

Acting for a leading salvage company in connection with a dispute it has with the Iraqi Ministry of Oil (MOO) in relation to the performance of a contract between 2013 and 2014.

Advised an oil and gas development company in connection with a joint venture with the Free Zone Authority of Iraq to develop an oil and gas hub in Al-Zubair in Southern Iraq.

Acting for the Ministry of Electricity and Ministry of Oil of the Republic of Iraq on a wide range of matters. At the moment we are assisting with the MOE in relation to its programme of IPP projects being launched across the country.